Hieam w



lNiTED STATES eml""AT13i-iT Ormes.

HIRAM W. STETSON, OF BLACK BROOK, NEW YORK.

BEDCLOTH SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed September 3, 188

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, HIRAM W. STETsoN, of Black Brook, Clinton county, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bedclothes Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My device is mounted adjustably on the foot-board or corresponding part ofa bedstead. It is provided with a clamp extending across the whole or the principal portion of the foot of the bed, adapted to hold the clothes by pressing them downward upon the mattress. The device is simple. A single spring holds the clamp down upon the bedclothes to retain them when required, and also holds the clamp up out of the way when the bed is to be made up. The device acts with a yielding force, adapted to accommodate itself to varying thicknesses of the bedclothing or mattress. The position of the whole is adjustable upward and downward.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the iuv vention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a bedstead having this device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of certain portions partly in vertical section. The device is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a bedstead, showing the device in elevation. This figure is on a much smaller scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is a portion of the bedstead, B a portion of the bedclothes, and C aportion of the mattress, all of'any ordinary or suitable character.

D is the foundation-board. It is held to the bedstead A. by screws E,inserted through slots d, so as to allow the board D and its conneotions to be adjusted upward and downward to accommodate the device to different thicknesses of mattress or to a greater or less number of mattresses or supports therefor.

D D are brackets screwed or otherwise iirmly secured to the board D and supporting the knuckles M of the clamp M. There are three ofl the brackets D-one near each end and one in the middle of the board D. There E S H O L D E R Patent No. 387,376, dated August 7, 1888.

7. Serial No.248,677. (Nomodel.)

are three corresponding knuckles M on the clamp M.

M2 is an eye screwed or otherwise secured on the clamp M in the position shown.

Pis a band of thin metal-or it may be leather,webbing, or other tlexible material-which municates to the clamp M the force of the single spring employed to hold the clamp down and up as required. The band P extends partially around the pulley G, fixed on the shaft G', and is subject to the force of a spring, K, which is coiled around the shaft G, and engaged one end in a hole, g, in the pulley G and the otherin a hole, h, in a sleeve, H,which loosely incloses the shaft and spring,and is provided both with a journal, H, and au arm,H2, which latter is parallel to H, but shorter.

I and J are brackets lixed in the required position on the board D. The bracket I simply receives and supports the shaft G. The bracket J is provided with a central hole, J', which receives the journal H', and with a series of holes, J 2, one of which receives the arm H2. The spring K exerts a longitudinal force. It also exerts a turning force, according as it is wound up or adj usted in applying theparts together. The number of coils in the spring K should be suflieient to allow a liberal range of motion, so that it exerts a nearly constant tension on the band P. When the clamp M is let down into the position shown in strong lines in Fig. l, it holds the bedclothing B re liably in place on the mattress C. When, on the contrary, the clamp M is raised by the attendantinto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the spring K yields and allows the the required extent. The parts are so proportioned that when the clamp is thrown up the band moves past the axis of motion of the clamp, and by its tension holds the clamp up with sui'cient force to overcome its gravity.

In putting the parts together the sleeve II is turned to wind up the spring, and on being liberated the thrusting force ofthe spring engages the arm H"I in the proper hole J2". When at any period afterward it is desired to adjust the force of the spring, so that the pulley G shall pull on the band I with greater or less force,it is simply necessary to take hold of the extends downward from the eye M2 and compulley G to turn and the bandi? to be drawn oft' sleeve H with sufficient force and move it endwise toward the pulley G,so as to disengage the arm H2 from its hole J2, and turn the sleeve H partially around and again engage the arm H2l in a ditterent hole J2.

Modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principle or sacriticing the advantages of the invention. The clamp M is represented as extending considerably beyond the knuckles M toward the foot of the bed and as matching closely against a cornice, Dl, near the top of the board D.r I prefer this construction, as also the curving of the adjacent outline ofthe brackets D, so that M the clamp shallrun close thereto as it is raised and lowered; but these points are not essential.

I claim as my invention-- l. In an automatic bedelothcsholder, the clamp M, turning on centers M at a proper height above the bed, in combination with the I band P, connected at one end to said clamp,

.and a spring, K, connected to theotherendof said band and exerting a tension on one side or the other of the axis M', according as the clamp is elevated or depressed, so as to hold the clamp forcibly downward and also forcibly upward,as required,all substantially as herein specified.

2. In a bedelothes holder, the clamp M, turning on centers M', in combination with the band I), pulley G, shaft G', and helical spring K, adapted to hold the clamp either elevated or depressed, and adjusting means, as the slots d and screws E, to adj ust the clamp upward and downward,substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Black Brook, Clinton county, New York, this 26th day ot August, 1887, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HIRAM W. SIETSON.

Titiiesses:

BENJ. E. WELLs, J. M. SHEFFIELD. 

